ARTBA Vs. MTA Treatment of Consumers

         About a month ago my friend and I who are both retired went to the Castleton bus terminal union office in Staten Island. Prior to my friends sons' death at the age of forty, this was the office/terminal he worked out of. Due to the death of her son and husband two days before her son died, her world spiraled out of financial control . She had not even had a chance to grieve.
    This trip to Staten Island from Brooklyn was to start that process almost three years later. I wrote a book which from the sales am donating two dollars to St. Judes and AML Leukemia which is what her son died from..
          We arrived during the midst of lunch time feeling we would catch someone to speak with. Her sons' picture is supposed to be in a hall on the second floor and she also wanted to see it. Here we stood in the hot August sun waiting, and waiting. At teh start there were three men standing outside smoking. The taller of the drivers' asked if he could help us. As I started to talk he suddenly turned his back and spoke to another guy. A second driver then asked what we wanted or needed. My friend Sandy explained as did I, mentioned her son Kevin griffin and this driver said he remembered him. He went on and said I'll get the union rep.
       Not only did the union Rep not show, but neither did the driver who said he'd get the rep, not even a decent courteous response to say, we're not interested, or he doesn't have time-or even a lie, like he isn't here !
        But we continued to wait and I look over and see a few tears from Sandy as she's tell me, I used to drop him off every day, even when he was so sick.  Now this is how we're treated! After twenty-two minutes a driver with black hair, a goatee stopped and in a kind manner asked if we needed help. Again we explained. Again we were told, I'll get him down.  AGAIN, NOT ONE  RESPONSE! Where is the decency ? This wasn't just about selling a book. This was a human kindness for a woman who lost her son and wanted a little bit of time. She also wanted the book to sell so in Kevin Griffins memory, donations would be made. Just in case you think that I would take this on any taxes-I don't as the donations don't come from me, they come from people who buy the book.

     Sandy and I drove home in her quiet rusty old car. Over and over she said, I can't believe this, I can't believe how they treated us, me! ( Meaning Sandy )  I felt helpless as a friend watching as she held the book close and tears slipping past her face when we stood on the ramp to the Bus terminal/ union office.
    Well after I returned home with Sandy to a home she was invited to live in after all of her losses, I left to come back to my home in Pennsylvania. See, sandy and I grew up in Brooklyn together which is why and how so much in the book has connections to Brooklyn, the people, men and women who work on ROAD CREWS and the human side of them.
      Recently I contacted ARTBA- and you won't believe this. They returned my e mails with a wonderful response. Kevin Griffn would be so proud of this group as a driver who drove so ften over roads that were built and repaired which is what ARTBA is all about. ARBTA acn teach a lesson in decency & respect to the MTA on Castleton in Staten Island NY. Thank you ARTBA Should anyone want to purchase a book, please send 13.99 to me at Doozybags through PAy PAl plus 1.25 for S&H

Waitresses & Dr.Office Ladies , Annoying

       Okay, not all, but I am so fed up with waitresses and doctor office ladies who address women as if they are children. Even when talking to children, cut out that high pitched baby crap voice. Hi! and how are you today with this awful annoying high voice. Then a man comes in and she talks in a regular voice. I have seen it over and over again in restaurants and in my own doctors office as well as in an office when I went with a friend. Do they think women are babies and don't understand?
     Did someone tell these ladies to talk to other females and children like they are all morons? Why are men shown the respect on those places. Last week in my doctors office, a guy was ahead of me and the nurse comes out, calls him by name in a regular voice. Then the same nurse comes back with this freakin' whiny high pitched voice! All I thought was, let me shut her up!
    Ladies take heed. You sound like IDIOTS! BY acting that way you are also showing men we as women , well you as women are telling men they deserve better and more respectful conversation. Stop talking to the younger kids like they're two years old-all you do is help keep them in a place of babyhood. You are supposed to be smarter.
     Waitresses, when you talk to me like that, it affects your tip. You are demeaning not only me, but yourself. When a waiter talks to me, he doesn't change his voice, so why do you as waitresses? That's as bad as women who lower their voices, called Vocal fry-look it up-to make themselves sound smarter. IT doesn't-you are freaking annoying ! Not smarter, but make me want to run, roll my eyes and say OH GOD, who does she think she's fooling?
   Wake up women!

Faith, Beliefs, Food, Kids, Health, God, and Life

       Years ago there was a song titled, What's is all about, Alfie? I seem to think about that a lot or maybe it seems that way at times. We all go through periods where we, think deeply about things and then we have the what ifs.
Have you wondered what your life is all about? I do sometimes and talked that over with my son. His comment was, if we think too long about our purpose or what's to be our purpose, we don't enjoy life. That makes sense to me, and I thrive on common sense, yet to be honest I am very impulsive and my lack of financial common sense has gotten me into trouble at times.

     Common sense is how I catch kids in lies.  Common send is how I now eat once again, plant based. I started yesterday. A boy moved out of my home Friday and I knew I would go back to Gods way of eating which is plant based, however he also put animals here for our food too. That was a time when pesticides weren't "spread" so wide. This too was a chat with my son, how when I was doing Forks over Knives, I was emotionally happy, and happier each day. But it's pesticides that have to now make me decide what meats I will eat as I love meat and don't want to do without. I will research free range beef.

    There is a new reporter who I will look up now, stopping as this is important, BILL CURTIS ! I just remembered.  He even talked about that when he was interviewed about his beef.  He has a ranch in the Midwest where he lets his herd roam free, God's way, which is how it was in the beginning and no I wasn't there. So how would I know you ask? Look into when pesticides came to be. Check out cancers, when were they first know and what population of people have cancer and heart disease LESS than anywhere else. That information you will find in The Blue Zones areas. Look it up.

      Look at kids in this generation and a few generations before. What makes them happy or I should ask what makes them think they're happy? Electronics, drugs, money, alcohol, freedom, lack of responsibilities, bullying and more along those lines.

     Then look at other kids, kids who eat differently, whose family values are to do for others as you would have them do for you, who have spiritual connections, who do for others, take responsibility, education is important, money is when they work for it, ethics, respect of adults and property, the law, being there for friends, not being part of bullying and they don't have to have name brands and what other kids have. They live within their means and the means of the parents.
     So what's it all about Alfie? In that story, the young lady learns it's about love, not money, not all of the things money will get you but love. Love covers everything. If you have love of family and faith, you will respect yourself and others to start with, and from that the other things which have values will follow.
    Next time your child asks you about life and why we're here, let them know simply, for each other and to learn.

Mary, Queensgate Bon Ton, Bargains, York Pa.

       Hello Area Shoppers,
            I stopped in at The Bon Ton today to exchange something and as usual no problem whatsoever. I wasn't even asked for ID. I had my card and the woman behind the counter who wasn't wearing a name tag was just so sweet and simply credited back into my account. I really love shopping there and I am not a shopper. If I could I'd hire someone to shop for me. OH, I really backtracked here, almost published post-go and check out the sales they are having!
        This particular store makes it a whole lot easier, even parking is a better experience, and no, I am not getting paid for this, although that would  be nice. Hey Bon Ton! So back to the people behind the counters. She is a lady name Mary. I have seen her there for quite a while and that says something about how The Bon ton must treat their employees and how the employees get along. I know many people in the work force don't get along but no one stays as long as some of the people I've seen there without at least liking the atmosphere, customers and each other.
   So back to Mary. One day when I was in just before Christmas, I passed Mary as she was heading to the back of the sore. A break, lunch or quitting time she could have easily ignore me, but she didn't. After all she does her job very well at the check-out so why extend herself further to anyone. Can you imagine smiling all day at people? Well she does and then some. Mary made eye contact on her way to the back, smiled and nodded her head with a small voiced hello. Not necessary at all. Just goes to character. You know what you do when no one is looking-or paying you? That is one classy woman and The Bon Ton is so fortunate to have her. Thank you Mary for all the times you treated me with respect. I do appreciate that.